Youth Sessions: Friends at Their Sides and the Word in Their Hearts
By Christopher Yoder, Meyersdale, Pennsylvania; student; Oak Dale Mennonite Church
Fellowship with God and others characterized the youth sessions during CMC's annual conference. After excitedly meeting with friends, doughnuts, and coffee on Friday morning, 240 youth (ushers' report) headed to the sanctuary. Joe Byler, of nearby Salisbury, Pennsylvania, and several other local youth led us in worship. After strains of "Holy is our God Almighty" faded, Leon Zimmerman took the pulpit. Because, as Leon explained, Scripture is God-"exhaled," it is living and active and our only proper response is "to tremble at God's Word!"
After the noon break, we again joined in worship-focusing on surrender to God. In his message, Leon used the acronym CAFÉ (see sidebar) to discuss the different approaches to biblical interpretation within the Christian community and confessed his own stance as Anabaptist. He closed with a challenge for our generation to correctly discern truth in a hostile environment.
In the evening, we gathered at Cherry Glade for a hilarious performance by "Ted and Lee Theater Works." Many of us stayed well after the ensuing pizza and popcorn, enjoying one another's company.
On Saturday afternoon, worship focused on God's amazing love, and Leon Zimmerman spoke about implementing the Word in our lives. Quoting a Kentucky preacher, Leon reminded us that "it matters how straight you walk. . ." Because God knows our hearts, we must drink continuously, believe correctly, know comprehensively, and (most importantly) practice consistently the Scriptures. Leon closed by saying, "Don't look around to figure out how to live. Look in [the Bible]."
Saturday evening brought the end of the youth activities. Bussed to a nearby farm, we wandered through a corn maze by the light of correctly answered biblical trivia questions. A powerful worship and prayer time under the clear, starry sky closed the evening. We left with friends at our sides and God's Word in our hearts.
Originally published in the September 2002 issue of the Brotherhood Beacon. Used by permission.